Thousands Protest Corruption in Philippines Over Substandard Flood Defences

The three-day rally, which began on Sunday, is the latest display of outrage over the discovery that thousands of flood defence projects across the typhoon-prone country were made from substandard materials or simply did not exist. According to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the projects, worth billions of pesos, were allegedly awarded to companies with ties to government officials. "We are here to demand justice and accountability for the people who suffered from the floods," said Maria Concepcion, a 35-year-old mother who lost her home in a recent flood. "We want to know why the government allowed these substandard projects to be built, and why they were not held accountable." The rally is also seen as a challenge to President Marcos Jr.'s administration, which has been criticized for its handling of the corruption scandal. The president's allies have denied any wrongdoing, but opposition lawmakers have called for an investigation into the matter. The corruption scandal is linked to flood-control projects that were implemented in the aftermath of Typhoon Fung-wong, which left 10 people dead and 1.4 million displaced in the Philippines in 2024. The projects were meant to protect communities from future floods, but an investigation by the Philippine government found that many of the projects were not built or were of poor quality. The rally is the latest in a series of protests against corruption in the Philippines. In recent years, the country has seen a number of high-profile corruption scandals, including the conviction of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on charges of corruption and graft. The current status of the corruption scandal is unclear, but opposition lawmakers have vowed to continue pushing for an investigation into the matter. The rally is expected to continue over the next few days, with thousands of people expected to join the protest. In a statement, the president's office said that the administration is committed to addressing the corruption scandal and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. However, the opposition has expressed skepticism about the administration's commitment to transparency and accountability. The rally is also seen as a test of the president's popularity, which has been declining in recent months. The president's approval ratings have fallen to around 50%, according to a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations. The rally is expected to continue over the next few days, with thousands of people expected to join the protest. The outcome of the rally is unclear, but it is likely to put pressure on the government to take action against corruption.